Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
12/14/04
Contact:
Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension, (712) 472-2576, doranb@iastate.edu
Feedlot Meeting to Feature Packer Concentration and Market Update
AMES, Iowa -- Doug O'Brien, senior staff attorney at Drake University, and Michael Murphy, market specialist with Cattle Fax, will highlight the Beef Feedlot Meeting on Jan. 11. This year's event, will be held at the Corporate Centre in Sioux Center. This regional meeting is being organized by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and the Iowa, Sioux and Lyon County Cattlemen's Associations.
Producers and agri-business professionals will hear the straight facts about anti-trust and trade practice policy from Doug O'Brien. O'Brien most recently completed two years as a legal counsel with the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, working for Senator Tom Harkin. He analyzed concentration and livestock marketing in the 2002 farm bill. Prior to this, Doug worked with the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration in Des Moines and with the Organization for Competitive Markets.
How long will high cattle prices persist? What will be the effect of re-opening trade with Japan and Canada? What would happen if another case of BSE were to surface? These are just three of the many questions surrounding cattle marketing and price outlook Murphy will address.
Other topics to be covered at the meeting include the livestock risk protection program, an update on environmental issues, the National Animal Identification System, country of origin labeling and a new market reporting service.
There will also be time to visit with sponsors of the meeting about their cattle products and services. Sponsors include Bayer Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Farm Credit Services of America (Sheldon and Emmetsburg), Fort Dodge Animal Health, Intervet Animal Health, Iowa Beef Center, Iowa Cattlemen's Association, Iowa State University Extension, Lyon County Cattlemen's Association, Merial Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Schering-Plough Animal Health and the Sioux County Cattlemen's Association.
Registration of $20 per person is due Jan. 7 to Lyon County Extension. To obtain a brochure or for more information, feel free to contact Beth Doran, ISU Extension beef field specialist, at (712) 472-2576 or the Sioux County Extension Office at (712) 737-4230.
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